1
as in mysterious
being beyond one's powers to know, understand, or explain
the many inscrutable beliefs of that ancient religion
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2
as in ambiguous
having an often intentionally veiled or uncertain meaning
ancient oracles typically uttered inscrutable prophecies that could be interpreted almost any way one chose
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Recent Examples of inscrutable
Alfie helps Matty look up the slip that ordered the docs’ removal, and the signature on it is… well, inscrutable.
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Matt Webb Mitovich, TVLine, 31 Oct. 2024
Election polls may seem cheerless, inscrutable, and wrapped in data and murky terminology.
—W. Joseph Campbell, Fortune, 29 Oct. 2024
Her reaction is quiet, a little inscrutable, before the screen cuts to black.
—Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 4 Oct. 2024
Spiraling, Lila becomes even more inscrutable, a witchlike figure haunting the neighborhood with the despair of her loss.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 7 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for inscrutable 
Matt Webb Mitovich, TVLine, 31 Oct. 2024
Election polls may seem cheerless, inscrutable, and wrapped in data and murky terminology.
—W. Joseph Campbell, Fortune, 29 Oct. 2024
Her reaction is quiet, a little inscrutable, before the screen cuts to black.
—Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 4 Oct. 2024
Spiraling, Lila becomes even more inscrutable, a witchlike figure haunting the neighborhood with the despair of her loss.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 7 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for inscrutable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inscrutable
Adjective
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The Wright-Patterson activity comes amid a string of mysterious drone sightings, primarily in the Northeast, that have been raising alarms among residents and local officials alike.Brad Lendon, CNN, 16 Dec. 2024
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Fantasia’s post was a lengthy summary of a legislative meeting with the Department of Homeland Security about the mysterious sightings.Stephen Pastis, Forbes, 16 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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This was later pulled back and made more ambiguous, but still, the setting and enemy mecha do pretty much squarely place it before the game even if the story elements are now less specific.Ollie Barder, Forbes, 15 Dec. 2024
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Whether or not Margo was actually having an affair with her teenage neighbor is intended to be ambiguous, according to Feldman.TIME, TIME, 13 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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The teaser ends on a cryptic note, showing an unknown bloodied woman (played by series newcomer Hilary Swank), running down the side of the road from an unseen threat.Abby Monteil, Them, 9 Dec. 2024
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That math is a bunch of cryptic symbols on a piece of paper.Kelsey Houston-Edwards, WIRED, 8 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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From 1981—nearly three months before MTV’s own debut, in fact—until 1988, Night Flight was a subcultural beacon, broadcasting not just obscure music videos but also documentaries like Another State of Mind and Urgh!Philip Sherburne, Pitchfork, 9 Dec. 2024
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His friends ask to see his top artists — some obvious ones (Kendrick Lamar) then some more obscure choices.EW.com, EW.com, 8 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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And thanks to Chalamet grabbing a guitar and harmonica, the Bob Dylan movie is positively electric chronicling the enigmatic singer's early years in the 1960s.Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 12 Dec. 2024
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The trope of the toxic drama teacher rears its head: David and Sarah’s enigmatic acting teacher, Mr. Kingsley, manipulates their emotions and desires in the name of art.Tajja Isen, The Atlantic, 11 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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An eighth-grader cross-legged on the floor of his parents’ bedroom, clicking the channel to IFC and finding the trio of uncanny coincidences that make up the film’s prologue.Matt Brennan, Los Angeles Times, 6 Dec. 2024
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The video should appear at once utterly convincing, ensuring that the effect of the transition into the live stage scene that follows feels somehow uncanny.Ayad Akhtar, The Atlantic, 4 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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The user posted the images and videos, including an image of a light in the sky, and several videos that appear to be shot from a plane cabin, but are very dark.Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 12 Dec. 2024
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Editors and dermatologists alike love it for its fine line–smoothing powers, along with its ability to dramatically lighten dark spots caused by sun damage.Jennifer Hussein, Allure, 11 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Recognized as one of India’s, and perhaps the world’s 50 most influential people, Sadhguru is a yogi, mystic, environmental activist, poet, and the bestselling author of over thirty books.Mandeep Rai, Forbes, 20 Nov. 2024
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The show is a mystic library, full of places that no longer exist.Jerry Saltz, Vulture, 13 Nov. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Inscrutable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inscrutable. Accessed 23 Dec. 2024.
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